The Expo: Prospects Who Are Ready To Take Over

The Expo gave us a strong look at a group of prospects who appear ready to take another step forward this season. From physical interior players who own the glass to athletic frontcourt prospects with developing perimeter games, there was plenty to like. These players showed toughness, skill, mobility and flashes of versatility that can translate into bigger roles. The foundation is there and now it's about turning those tools into consistent production. We believe these players are positioned to make their presence felt in a major way this season.    Hadzic gave us plenty of reasons to be encouraged by what we saw at The Expo. He has a strong foundation around the block, showing good footwork, effective reverse pivots and the ability to finish through contact or create space with his back to the basket. He also showed he can make an impact in transition and can finish above the rim, while consistently crashing the glass and rebounding in bunches. Expanding his comfort level away from the block will be important, but the tools are there. With continued growth Hadzic has a real opportunity to make a significant impact this season and turn some heads along the way     Joy emerged as an unexpected name on our radar at The Expo. His length gives him an obvious presence, but his skill level is what made the bigger impression. He showed confidence stepping out to the three point line while also displaying the footwork and touch to be effective around the basket. He stayed active throughout his minutes, moved well without the ball and seemed to consistently find himself in productive areas of the floor. For a player we weren't familiar with coming into the event, Joy certainly made an introduction. His combination of size, skill and activity gives us plenty of reason to be interested in what comes next     Eggemeyer was another player who showed at The Expo that his physical presence can have a real impact on both ends of the floor. His size and strength stood out around the basket, where he worked hard on the glass, altered shots at the rim and consistently cleaned up opportunities inside. He gave his team extra possessions with his rebounding and did a good job taking advantage of chances close to the basket. He also showed some range offensively, giving us another piece of his game to watch. There is a solid foundation here and Eggemeyer has an opportunity to make his presence felt in a big way this season     Nicholson was one of the players who really gave us something to be excited about at The Expo, with his combination of athleticism, fluidity, and skill standing out immediately. His three-point stroke has a strong foundation, and his movement and footwork are impressive for a player with his athletic profile. He already understands how to impact the game as a screener and around the dunker spot, but we see another level waiting to emerge. When Nicholson consistently uses his athleticism to attack the basket, pressure defenders and play above the rim, his offensive impact is hard to stop. The tools are there and this could be a breakout season for him     Grisham showed a nice balance to his game at The Expo, competing with a toughness that stood out while displaying plenty of offensive skill. He battled on the block, pursued rebounds and wasn't hesitant to go right back up with the ball. He showed a smooth shooting stroke, knocking down deep shots and making his mid range game a consistent threat. His ball handling also stood out, allowing him to create opportunities, while crafty footwork helped him finish difficult layups. Defensively he forced multiple turnovers and showed active hands. Gishame showed enough at The Expo to make us interested in seeing how that game translates into a bigger role this season     Aboud was a player who showed us an intriguing offensive upside at The Expo. For his size he has a surprising burst that allows him to get downhill and into the paint with relative ease. He also didn't shy away from traffic, going up strong and finishing through contact while creating opportunities for three point plays. His ability to combine size with that sneaky quickness made him a difficult matchup when he gets moving toward the basket. There is a lot to like about the foundation of his scoring game, and Aboud could develop into an explosive offensive option this season

The Expo gave us a strong look at a group of prospects who appear ready to take another step forward this season. From physical interior players who own the glass to athletic frontcourt prospects with developing perimeter games, there was plenty to like. These players showed toughness, skill, mobility and flashes of versatility that can translate into bigger roles. The foundation is there and now it's about turning those tools into consistent production. We believe these players are positioned to make their presence felt in a major way this season.